Men Stole $20K Worth Of Copper From Portland Construction Site: Police

PORTLAND, ME — Two men are facing charges after police say they stole nearly $30,000 worth of copper and tools from the construction site of Portland's new Homeless Services Center, according to police.

According to Portland police, a caller contacted authorities just after 11 p.m. Monday after they saw two men exiting the construction site at 654 Riverside St.

When officers arrived, authorities found Edward Demers, 42, and Chayne Markie, 23, both of Portland, on a nearby trail pushing wheelbarrows loaded with copper stolen from the construction site.

A short time later, an officer checking businesses found a truck belonging to Markie in a nearby parking lot. The truck bed contained several battery-powered tools, which police said belonged to a company working at the construction site.

According to authorities, the pair stole approximately $20,000 worth of copper and $8,500 in tools.

Demers and Markie are charged with burglary, felony theft, criminal mischief and refusal to submit to arrest. Both were taken to Cumberland County Jail.